Celebrating the The Observer names Holiday Gifts for Holidays in NYC the 'Best of 2004' > Everyone Features, Page 11 Centerfold, Pages 14 to 15 Arts, Page 22 www.fclcobsevver.coni The Student Voice ofFordham College at Lincoln Center December 9, 2004 Volume XXIII, Issue 7 Community mobilized in 'Vagina Monologues' controversy USG, College Council formally back ISIS Students, V-Day ByLauraDiOrio,PCLC'O5 requested changes to the pro- panel members go NEWS EDITOR duction, and that [the] Division would not fund or sponsor it," after Student Affairs FCLC—Both the College according to Dean of Students Council and United Student Christopher Rodgers. 'censorship' Government (USG) at Fordham During the same week in College at Lincoln Center November 2004, the FCLC By Monique Diman, FCLC '06 (FCLC) have passed resolutions College Council and USG each ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR that take a similar stance on the passed its own resolution disap- Division of Student Affairs' proving Student Affairs' deci- FCLC—Panel members dis- decision to not sponsor this sion. At the Nov. 17 College agreed with the Office of Student year's production of "The Council* meeting, members Affairs' refusal to sponsor the Vagina Monologues." voted almost unanimously that 2005 production of Eve Ensler's After months of discussion they "deplore the actions of "The Vagina Monologues" at a between Student Affairs and In Student Affairs toward not Nov. 17 panel that discussed the Strength I Stand (ISIS), the club allowing 'The Vagina play's relationship to Jesuit phi- that wants to put on the play Monologues' to be held" and losophy and Catholicism. with the use of money available that they "support the sponsor- Although Dean of Students from the Student Activity- Fee, ship of various academic Sarah Tilotta/The server Christopher Rodgers was asked Studa#A%airs informed -ISIS departments," . according to Over 200 students, faculty and administrators attendeed ISIS's to represent his office's position that since they were "neither Stuart Sherman, associate chair Nov. 17 forum to discuss the place of The Vagina Monologues'at as a panel member, he did not willing nor able to make the Fordham. Christmas spirit is in the air From Fordham to US Weekly By J.P. Mangalindan FCLC '05 IARTS & CULTURE ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Pages 18 to 23 You may have seen her on Extra doing Rumor Control, on VHl's Top ly-circulated) magazine hitting news- 100 shows offering her two cents, or stands these days. hob-knobbing on E's red carpet with Recently, Majewski sat down with some of Hollywood's brightest stars. The Observer to discuss the ins and For Lori Majewski, FCLC '93, it's not outs of entertainment journalism* merely a past time or hobby—music, what it's like to be on top of the heap, TV, movies, bumping into celebs— and why this journalist is just like US. it's part of the job. The 3 3-year-old Executive Editor The Observer: Was journalism of US Weekly Magazine, who hails something you've wanted to do since from Weehawken, NJ, attended FCLC the get-go, or more like something where she garnered scoops with you stumbled upon? artists like Bruce Springstein as Arts Lori Majewski: I'd wanted to be a Editor for The Observer while intern- journalist ever since I was 11-years- ing for publications like SPIN and old, when I discovered Duran Duran Sassy. During her time on the news- and I figured the only way I'd meet paper, Majewski realized her calling them is if I interviewed them, so at in life: entertainment journalism. that moment, I stopped wanting to be Majewski's first job at The Jersey a teacher and decided I was going to Journal ranged from writing obituar- set out and be a journalist and I was ies and movie show times, to hard very focused. ... I joined The news and features. Several years later, Observer, became the Arts Editor at she was tapped by YM and quickly The Observer. I also decided that I ascended the ranks of the teen maga- wanted to do celebrity interviews for zine to become its Entertainment The Observer, so I called publicists Editor, She then left YM and brought saying, 'I'd like to interview your her talents to Teen People's launch artist for The Observer,' and I would staff. The magazine won the 2001 just leave out that the fact that it was National Magazine Award (ASME), for the Fordham Observer and people the most prestigious editorial honor in thought it was for The New York the magazine industry. Observer. I didn't lie but after a while, people probably picked up on it, but Majewski, now executive editor of they thought it was so ... they knew I Us Weekly, first joined the magazine was really knowledgeable about their in 2001 nnd helped then editor in artists when 1 came to interview them, chief Bonnie Fuller revive the floun- Caitlin Dillaway/ The Observer dering publication, transforming it The Lincoln Center Holiday 'lYee was lit on Nov. 29, with the help of ABC's Sam into the wildly successful (and wide- Champion, Mickey Mouse, and a high-wire act from the Big Apple Circus. The Observer December 9, 2004 USG Pres. is silent in 'Monologues' debate _.ui. By Anthony HazeD FCLC '06 IA CLOSER LOOK spokesperson for the student things I will say, is that I respect MANAGING EDITOR body as USG president, but I Cat Wood for how thoughtful Opinion 7 'Monologues' Discussion Features 11 also feel that my opinion wasn't she is being about this situation. Arts & Culture 18 FCLC—It all started at the "At no time was I forced or the only one that represented Her own personal decision to Literary. 24 Nov. 18 open a United Student was it told to me that I couldn't them ... my primary goal is to handle the debate as USG pres- Sports ...28 Government (USG) meeting. speak out," Wood told The moderate the meetings and my ident in the way that she feels is Over a dozen officers were set MISSION STATEMENT Observer. Wood explained that personal opinion isn't heard that right is something that I know The Observer is an independent- to to discuss their reaction to last year when she thought much. There are class senators she puts a lot of thought into, minded student newspaper serv- Office of Student Affairs' recent about campaigning to become from each year representing and I respect that. I think it ing the Fordham College at decision to deny ISIS funding USG president, she did recog- thejr constituencies, and if all of would be unfortunate for there Lincoln Center (FCLC) communi- for their planned February 2005 nize that being an RA and USG the class senators are represent- to be a cynical use of this situa- ty. The Observer's mission is to seek and present the unbiased production of "The Vagina president might be a conflict of ing their constituents, then tion to exaggerate it or for other truth while simultaneously fos- Monologues." interest. She defended her deci- every class' views are heard." political or PR reasons." tering journalism experience But before the discussion sion to run and represent the stu- Jackaway said Wood's silence Wood, however, is "excited" among students enrolled at FCLC even began, USG president dent body, however, by saying, says something on its own. about the situation involving and promoting and supporting Catherine Wood, FCLC '06, "I decided that, in the end, my the ethical principles defined in "Obviously, if she agreed Student Affairs and the the First Amendment of the read the following statement: interests and my dedication to with the university, she would "Monologues." United States Constitution per- "As President of the United the students was more signifi- not be afraid to state her opin- "A lot of the students, facul- taining to the freedom of speech Student Government at Fordham cant and I felt like I could have ion," Jackaway said. ty, and the administration are all and of the press. ' College at Lincoln Center, I, a great impact in both roles to Asked what Student Affairs very vocal about the issue," she Catherine A. Wood, am recusing such as an extent that it would expects of staff members, said. "I'm excited about the CONTACTING US myself from today's hearings on be valuable to apply to be an RA The Observer office is located on Rodgers said, "Staff members issue because I feel like it's the FCLC campus in room SL-19 the production of 'The Vagina and to run to be USG president." are free to comment and partic- gained an interest by the stu- of the Leon Lowenstein building Monologues' and USG's discus- Gwenyth Jackaway, associ- ipate in the debate regardless of dents. Any issue that can gain at 113 West 60th Street, New sion and formation of the USG's ate professor of communication whether they agree or disagree interest and bring students and York, NY. Address all mail to The position on 'The Vagina and media studies, who teaches with the university or part of the faculty around discussion about Observer, Fordham College at Monologues.' Because I am the "Freedom of Expression" university. We have no expec- Lincoln Center, 113 West 60th a topic.it creates community Street, Room 408, New York, NY employed by Student Affairs as course at Lincoln Center, tations when it comes to that, and it creates more of an active 10023. Call us at 212-636-6015 a Resident Assistant [RA], there believes that Wood's silence is aside from being respectful.